Folding and inclination adjustable device for treadmills

ABSTRACT

A treadmill includes a base and two posts are connected to the two side rails. A frame with an endless belt is pivotably connected between the two posts. Each post has an elongate hole and two sets of pivot assemblies respectively extend through the two elongate holes. Each pivot assembly has a pin and a roller which is mounted to the pin which is fixed to the frame. The roller is movably retained in the elongate hole corresponding thereto. A support device has an end fixed to the base and the other end of the support device is pivotably connected to an underside of the frame. The frame is pivoted upward about the pins and the rollers assist the pivotal movement of the frame. The pins are moved within the elongate holes to adjust the inclination of the frame relative to the base.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a folding and inclination adjustable device for treadmills and the device needs less number of parts and is easily to be operated to folding and adjusting the frame relative to the base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional treadmill generally includes a base with a rectangle frame pivotably connected between two sides of the base. A driving device is connected to the frame so as to drive an endless belt on the frame. Two posts extend from the two sides of the base and two handlebars are connected to the two posts and a control panel is connected between the two handlebars. In order to be conveniently stored when not in use, some treadmills are equipped with a folding device so that the frame can be pivoted upright to reduce the area that the treadmill occupies. Most of the folding devices are made by links which involve a complicated mechanism which is costly and difficult to be maintained. Besides, when pivoting the frame, the user has to overcome certain level of resistance and this could be a problem for some users. Furthermore, the conventional treadmills are equipped with inclination adjusting device that allows the users to adjust the inclination of the frame relative to the base so as to obtain an uphill jogging function. The inclination adjusting device is independent from the folding device.

The present invention intends to provide a folding and inclination adjustable device that share some common parts so that the structure is simplified and a wheel is used to assist the pivoting action when the frame is to be pivoted to a vertical position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a treadmill that comprises a base with two side rails and two posts are connected to the side rails. Each post has an elongate hole defined therethrough. A frame has a first end pivotably connected between the two posts and an endless belt reeves through the first end and a second end of the frame. A driving unit for driving the endless belt is connected to the first end of the frame. Two sets of pivot assemblies respectively extend through the two elongate holes and each have a pin and a roller which is mounted to the pin. The roller is movably retained in the elongate hole corresponding thereto and the pin is fixed to the frame. A support device has an end fixed to the base and the other end of the support device is pivotably connected to an underside of the frame.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the treadmill with the folding and inclination adjustable device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view to show the pivot assembly cooperated with the side rail and the frame of the treadmill of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view to show the treadmill of the present invention, wherein the frame is located horizontally;

FIG. 4 shows the pivotal movement of the frame relative to the base;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show that the frame is adjusted for the inclination relative to the base;

FIG. 7 shows that the roller in the pivot assembly can be replaced with a bearing;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view to show another embodiment of the folding and inclination device of the present invention;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the folding and inclination device in FIG. 8, and

FIG. 10 shows that the roller in the pivot assembly in FIG. 8 can be replaced with a bearing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the treadmill “A” of the present invention comprises a base 10 with two side rails 11 and a traverse bar (not shown) connected between the two side rails 11. Two posts 12 are connected to the side rails 11 and two handles 13 are connected to the two posts 12 respectively. A control panel 14 is disposed between the two handles 14 so that the users may adjust the treadmill “A” and obtain physical information about the users. Each post 12 has an elongate hole 15 defined therethrough.

A frame 20 has a first end pivotably connected between the two posts 12 and an endless belt 21 reeves through the first end and a second end of the frame 20. A driving unit 23 including a driving motor, a reduction assembly and electronic control parts is connected to the first end of the frame 20. The driving motor drives the endless belt 21 and is electronically connected to the control panel 14. A wheel 26 is connected to the front end of the frame 20 and two rear wheels 22 (only one is shown) are connected to an underside of the second end of the frame 20. An angle is defined between a longitudinal axis of each elongate hole 15 and the frame 20, the angle is equal to or less than 90 degrees.

Two sets of pivot assemblies 25 respectively extend through the two elongate holes 15 and are connected to the two sides of the frame 20. Each pivot assembly 25 has a pin 253 and a roller 254 which is mounted to the pin 253. The roller 254 is movably retained in the elongate hole 15 corresponding thereto and the pin 253 includes a threaded end 252 which is threadedly connected to the frame 20.

A support device 30 includes a pneumatic cylinder which has an end fixed to the base 10 and the other end of the support device 30 is pivotably connected to an underside of the frame 20.

When folding the frame 20, by the help of the rollers 254, the frame 20 can be easily and smoothly pivoted upward as shown in FIG. 4. The wheel 26 is located above the floor as shown in FIG. 3 when the frame 20 is arranged horizontally, and is in contact with the floor when the frame 20 is about to pivot to vertical position, at this moment, the force of arm is so short that the user is hard to provide more force to pivot the frame 20, the wheel 26 assists the pivotal movement for further pivoting the frame 20. It is noted that the roller 254 in each set of the pivot assembly 25 can be replaced with a bearing 2540 as shown in FIG. 7.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when adjusting the inclination of the frame 20, the support device 30 lifts the first end of the frame 20 and the whole pivot assembly 25 moves in the elongate hole 15 as shown.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show another embodiment of the folding device and the difference is for the structure of the post 12 is an adjusting portion which includes a first section 111 fixed on respective one of the two side rails 11 and including a first elongate hole 151, a movable section 121 movably mounted to the first section 111 and a second section 120 which is connected to the movable section 121. The movable section 121 has a second elongate hole 152, the two pins 253 of the two sets of pivot assemblies 25 respectively extending through aligned first and second elongate holes 151, 152. As shown in FIG. 10, the roller 254 in each set of the pivot assembly 25 can be replaced with a bearing 2540.

The folding and inclination adjustable device successfully combines the folding and inclination adjustable functions within one simple device which needs less number of parts. The wheel 26 and the rollers 254 in the pivot assemblies 25 allow the folding action to be much more easily and conveniently.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. A treadmill comprising: a base (10) with two side rails (11) and two posts (12) connected to the side rails (11), each post (12) having an elongate hole (15) defined therethrough; a frame (20) having a first end pivotably connected between the two posts (12) and an endless belt (21) reeving through the first end and a second end of the frame (20), a driving unit (23) connected to the first end of the frame (20) and driving the endless belt (21); two sets of pivot assemblies (25) respectively extending through the two elongate holes (15) and each having a pin (253) and a roller (254) which is mounted to the pin (253), the roller (254) movably retained in the elongate hole (15) corresponding thereto, the pin (253) being fixed to the frame (20), and a support device (30) having an end fixed to the base (10) and the other end of the support device (30) pivotably connected to an underside of the frame (20).
 2. The treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein a wheel (26) is connected to the front end of the frame (20).
 3. The treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein an angle is defined between a longitudinal axis of each elongate hole (15) and the frame (20), the angle is equal to or less than 90 degrees.
 4. The treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the pins (253) includes a threaded end (252) which is threadedly connected to the frame (20).
 5. The treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the posts (12) includes an adjusting portion which includes a first section (111) fixed on respective one of the two side rails (11) and including a first elongate hole (151), a movable section (121) movably mounted to the first section (11) and a second section (120) which is connected to the movable section (121), the movable section (121) having a second elongate hole (152), the two pins (253) of the two sets of pivot assemblies (25) respectively extending through aligned first and second elongate holes (151, 152). 